The Shadow
A parking war of sorts has been brewing in the city of Covington.
Frankie Trawick of 212 N. Marion Avenue complained to Covington City Council during their April work session Tuesday night regarding a yellow no parking line recently painted in front of her home.
“I’m the only person in the city with a yellow line painted on their curb,” Trawick said.
In a letter to council, she said, “Over one month ago, a complaint was made by my neighbor across the street regarding cars parked in front of my house on the street. As long as I’ve owned my house, there has never been parking restrictions placed by the city in front of my house or any other residence in my area.”
“I am the only house on Marion Avenue that has a yellow curb,” Trawick said.
The issue came to light when the neighbor approached the city and asked for the parking restriction in front of Trawick’s home in order to give her enough room to back out of her driveway onto Marion Avenue.
She stated she has visual difficulties and it is difficult to see oncoming traffic as she enters the street.
The city responded by painting the line in front of her home.
“In my opinion, before the city painted the curb in front of my house denoting a parking restriction, I should have received written notice of the upcoming change so I could respond on my own behalf,” the letter continued.
“Curbs in front of an individuals residence should not be painted based on the complaint of another resident, nor should the city make a unilateral decision to do so without informing the resident affected,” according to the letter.
Councilman Bill Zimmerman responded saying the Covington Police Department verbally informed her of the curb being painted and she agreed.
Trawick disagreed, she said she initially thought it would be acceptable but soon realized the negative effect of being unable to park in front of her home. Her home does not have a driveway.
“I think it devalues my property,” Trawick said.
The exchange between Trawick, her neighbors, Zimmerman and Councilman B.B. Bryant became terse.
“This has been a nine-month ordeal,” Zimmerman said and told Trawick and her supporters if they had been good neighbors, there would have been no need to paint the line in the first place.
That drew the ire of Linda Wright of Marion Avenue.
“We tried to be good neighbors,” Wright responded and states she has never spoken to the neighbor in question.
“She needs to learn to back up,” Wright said.
During Tuesday’s discussions on the issue, Zimmerman alleged that Wright has stated to others, “I’ll park where I damn well please.”
Wright vehemently denied the allegation, but noted, “If I or someone else said that, what business is it of yours?”
Zimmerman also alleged that the neighbors were purposely parking in a manner that would hamper the neighbor in her attempt to back out of her driveway.
Zimmerman said Wright’s car was deliberately parked in that manner for well over one week.
Wright said there was no intention of blocking anyone and everyone in the city can park where they please as long as it’s in a legal parking space.
